SHAPING UP: Seven excuses to avoid weight loss

Have you ever wondered how some people are able to maintain amazing bodies while you struggle with your weight?

They make it seem so easy to achieve and maintain results. What do they know that you don’t? When you boil it down, the answer is quite simple. The missing link between you and your ideal body is your go-to list of excuses.

Start with an excuse and expect to be excused from losing weight. Here are seven excuses that have ensured dieters will fail in their weight-loss attempts before they ever get started.

Excuse 1: I’ve Always Been Overweight

Here’s a little secret: feeling sorry for yourself will not help you lose weight. Quite the contrary. Whining and crying that you’ve never been thin can actually work against you, as you start to see yourself as stuck being overweight. Do that long enough and all you can see in your future is an overweight you. If you’re going to really cut your weight, you’ve got to be able to envision a lighter you.

Excuse 2: I Worked Out, So I Can Eat Whatever

Working out often makes you hungry. That’s a good thing. You just burned a bunch of calories and your body is looking to make up for them. However, just because you burned a few hundred calories doesn’t mean you get to indulge in any and every food you see. And you certainly can’t eat as much as you want.

Excuse 3: I Don’t Have Time to Exercise

Spend a few days documenting how you use your time. Write down each and every thing you do and how long you do it for. You’ll soon notice how much time you throw in the trash by mindlessly surfing your favourite social media sites and watching television. Transform those times into workout opportunities and toss the time excuse in the trash. Also my online IN10SITY programmes use 10 minute workouts with amazing results … really, you don’t have 10 minutes?

Excuse 4: Exercise Hurts

Some folks are in pain the day after they work out. If this is you and you find yourself feeling like you just rode a horse for three days straight after a workout, the reason is likely that you only hit the gym once a week or every two or three weeks. To get over that uncomfortable soreness after every workout, you’re going to have to go at it at least three times a week.

Yes, you’ll still get sore on occasion, but it’ll be an accomplished soreness.

Excuse 5: I Love Junk Food

This may seem a hurdle too large to overcome, but if you’re willing to fight for your weight loss, it can be done. To convince yourself that healthy food doesn’t have to be disgusting, spend more time with health-conscious friends who cook and live healthily. Eat what they eat. You’ll be amazed at the wide range of flavours to savour on a healthy diet.

Excuse 6: It’s No Fun Doing It Alone

Then stop trying to diet alone! Grab your healthiest friends and surround yourself with them. When you’re tempted to go off track with your diet or want to skip a workout, call or text your friends for immediate support. They’ll prop you up, remind you of your goals, and encourage you to stay the course.

Excuse 7: My Body Is Delicate

First off, before you start an exercise routine, it’s a good idea to run the idea by your GP.

However, unless you have an incredibly rare condition, exercises done with proper technique and eating healthily will not put you at risk for anything but improved health. As soon as you accept the fact that your body can handle much more than you’ve put it through, the sooner you’ll begin enjoying the gym and make better use of your body.

Exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss.

I’m here to help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals, so guarantee your results by teaming up with me.

I know that a healthy life is within your reach – I’ve seen hundreds of my clients before you do it. If you’re serious about transforming your body, then let me help you and give you the kickstart you need – sign up and start training with me online with my workout and nutrition programmes: www.My-IN10SITY.com for women and www.IN10SITY4Men.com

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Chorizo Egg Skillet

Here’s a flavourful and exciting way to start your day! Chorizo, eggs, tomatoes and arugula are the star ingredients in this protein-filled breakfast skillet. Feel free to enjoy it for dinner or lunch too!

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need …

2 links chorizo, casing removed

½ white onion, chopped

1 can diced tomatoes

12 cherry tomatoes, halved

4 large eggs

1 cup arugula

sea salt

black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees

2. Place the chorizo links in a medium, oven-proof, skillet over low heat. Cook until all sides of the chorizo are browned. Periodically deglaze the pan with water. Allow the chorizo to cool, remove it from the skillet, and then slice each link into 10 pieces.

3. Sauté the onion in the leftover chorizo fat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the can of tomatoes to the skillet. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes and slices of chorizo around the edge of the skillet. Use a spoon to create four 2-inch wells in the tomato for the egg mixture. Crack each egg into a ramekin and gently pour one egg into each well.

4. Place the skillet in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until the eggs are set. Top with fresh arugula and season with sea salt and black pepper. Enjoy!

A back-to-basics full body workout to increase your fitness and burn that stubborn fat!

Complete three rounds of the following as quickly as you personally can:

10 body weight squats

10 reverse lunges (10 on each side)

10 push-ups

10 full sit-ups

10 burpees

100m sprint

60 sec walk/rest

Tip: Time yourself and aim to beat your time each workout – aim to do the workout every other day – good luck.

Always warm up before and stretch after any workout, all exercises are easily found online.

LIFESTYLE TIP: BALANCE

Activities that require the co-ordination of your entire body, such as jogging, swimming, and the elliptical trainer, burn more calories than stabilised activities, such as a stationary bike. For maximal calorie burning, choose cardiovascular exercises that use your entire body.

David Souter is an award-winning fitness trainer based in the North East and creator of IN10SITY. David is one of the co-stars of Charlotte’s 3 Min Belly Blitz – the platinum-selling No.1 DVD of 2015 and record-breaking fastest-selling fitness DVD ever. David was also the exercise choreographer behind the No.1 selling fitness DVD of 2014 – Vicky’s 7 Day Slim and has appeared on BBC1 warming up 45,000 Great North Runners. For personal training, online workouts and nutrition plans email david@my-fitnesstrainer.com or visit www.My-IN10SITY.com